A Voyage from San Francisco to Tahiti 427 



Papa-Ita, 



with a large bunch of Ti leaves, 

 through the middle rather hurriedl}' 



began to walk 



I have spoken to several respectable na- 

 tives who separately walked through it 

 after him three years ago here, who all 

 agree that they felt little heat on their 

 feet, but a good deal on their heads, 

 their ears, and their hands. 



July I'j. — This morning arranged to 

 pay $6.30 (Chile) for five dozen fish, 

 which were delivered early and put on 

 ice ; then went with Mrs. K. and bought 

 the best shawl to be obtained in town for 

 Mrs. Apouhara ; paid for the chief's mat 

 and other things which Tati had or- 

 dered for me, and then left my lodgings 

 for the ship. I bathed for the last time 

 in the Fatoua Pool ; called on the gov- 

 ernor and left my card and Ambassador 

 Cambon's letter, getting an answer from 

 the governor promptly, with an invita- 



tion to call at 4 o'clock, which I was 

 obliged to decline on account of the fire- 

 walk at that hour. 



In preparation for the fire ceremony, 

 I took a tin ship's measure full of fresh 

 water, which held very nearly 5 quarts 

 and, by weight, 9.2 pounds. The empty 

 tin weighed i . i pound. This is to be 

 used in half-filling, with three or four 

 measures, a large wooden bucket or tub 

 with fresh water, into which one of the 

 smaller hot stones from the center of 

 the fire is to be put after the ceremony. 



I am told that the fire was lighted at 

 a little after 12. I arrived, with Cap- 

 tain Lawson, Dr. McNulty, Chief En- 

 gineer Richardson, and two assistants. 

 The wooden bucket, containing 3^ im- 



